lifestyle reality check

Transcription

1 module 2 nova scotia lifestyle reality check tip: This activity works best as a computerbased activity, although the hard copy version is presented here. See Materials and Tools for computer references. Overview students will: complete a questionnaire on their future lifestyle goals comparing expenses to a realistic income level discuss the need for a realistic understanding of personal finances The questionnaire shows students that they need a realistic vision of their future lifestyle in order to make achievable plans for their education and career. curriculum areas Use this module to teach Learning Outcomes in curriculum areas such as: Career and Life Planning Life/Work Transition Applications of Math, Consumer Math For a detailed listing by province/territory and course, refer to Learning Outcomes on the educator pages at Educational Programs > The City. OutcOmes Students will be able to: describe aspects of the lifestyle they envision for their future discuss how financial skills can help them achieve personal lifestyle goals compare some expenses from the lifestyle they envision with realistic income levels prepare for subsequent activities leading to Module 10 (Financial Plan) materials and tools copy for each student of Handout 2-1, Lifestyle Reality Check (also available online at Educational Programs > The City, Module 2) Handout 2-2, Lifestyle Reality Check Answer Sheet Handout 2-3, Quick Quiz Lifestyle Reality Check overhead projector, if using in-class time required one lesson (approximately 45 minutes) preparation If students have developed a statement of their personal education and career goals in previous career counselling classes, ask them to bring their goals to the class. key words lifestyle, reality, goals, choices

2 module 2 (cont'd) suggested approach 1. Review students education and career goals. a) Have students: Review the educational and career goals they developed in other courses. Place a statement of their goals in their Financial Life Skills binder or portfolio. ALTERNATIVE: If students have not already developed their education and career goals, have them: Write one or two sentences to complete the following statements: The career goal for my life is: The education or preparation I need to meet my career goal is: Place the statement of their goal in their Financial Life Skills binder or portfolio (as described in Module 1). b) Point out that students goals may change as they review their choices, but they can use their statement to carry out the financial life skills activities that follow. 2. Ask students what the word lifestyle means. a) Explain that lifestyle means the way people choose to live their life, including where they live, how they dress, what work they do, what they do for entertainment, etc. b) Ask for some examples of modern lifestyles in Canada. E.g., A rural lifestyle involves living in or near a small town, often in resource-based occupations, often with outdoor forms of recreation and more limited choices in entertainment. An urban lifestyle involves living in a larger city, often in an apartment, with an office or service job, and a choice of movies, concerts and other events for entertainment. 3. Have students: Go to the Lifestyle Reality Check (at Educational Programs > The City, Module 2). Complete the questionnaire online. Print out the results of the questionnaire. ALTERNATIVE: Distribute Handout 2-1, Lifestyle Reality Check, and have students complete the questionnaire on paper. 4. Lead a class discussion about the results of the Lifestyle Reality Check. Prompt discussion with questions like the following: What surprised you about the results of the Lifestyle Reality Check? Answers will vary. Would it be easier to change the expense items you chose or to change the income you need? It is generally easier to manage expenses than to increase your income level, especially in the short term. Are all the choices you made essential, or can they be changed to reduce your expenses? Answers will vary

3 module 2 (cont'd) Will your career or occupation provide enough income for the lifestyle you want? Answers will vary. Do you have the knowledge and skills to make the financial choices to support your lifestyle goals? Most people learn financial life skills by trial and error and by making costly mistakes. By learning these skills in school, you can gain knowledge and confidence to develop the skills you need in a safe environment. How could good financial skills help you achieve your lifestyle choices? Whatever your goals, you will need money to reach them. The better you re able to plan and manage your finances, the more likely you ll be to reach your goals. Option: Have students revise their answers to the Lifestyle Reality Check and see how their changes affect the outcome. 5. Distribute Handout 2-2, Lifestyle Reality Check Answer Sheet. Have students complete questions 1 and 2. tip: Ensure that students file a printout of their Lifestyle Reality Check so they can refer to it again later. 6. Home connections. Have students: Take home their Lifestyle Reality Check sheet. Discuss their personal goals with their parents or another adult and discuss how their family can support them in achieving those goals. Write a summary of their discussion on Handout 2-2, Lifestyle Reality Check Answer Sheet. Add the handout to their Financial Life Skills binder or portfolio (as described in Module 1)

4 module 2 (cont'd) evidence for assessment During the class discussion, ensure that students can: describe some aspects of a future lifestyle they envision for themselves compare the related expenses to a realistic income discuss how financial skills can help them achieve personal lifestyle goals Review the students Handout 2-2, Lifestyle Reality Check Answer Sheet, to ensure they can: describe aspects of a future lifestyle they d like to have list things they learned about the reality of their preferred lifestyle Distribute Handout 2-3, Quick Quiz Lifestyle Reality Check, and have the class complete the quiz. Correct answers are as follows: 1) Define the words: lifestyle: Answer: A way or style of living; your normal habits, pastimes, attitudes, standard of living, etc. goals: Answer: Aim, purpose or ambition 2) Name two of the possible career choices that will provide enough income for the lifestyle you want. Answers will vary. 3) Describe one way that career choice affects lifestyle. Answer: Career choice can affect where you live, your income, the money you have to pay for education and the lifestyle choices that are realistic. 4) Describe two aspects of a future lifestyle you d like to have. Answers will vary. 5) Why is a lifestyle reality check a useful part of financial life skills? Answer: Financial life skills must be based on a realistic understanding of an individual s income and expenses. extension activities Have students use magazine or digital images to create a collage or video illustrating the lifestyle they d like for themselves, and summarize in a few words or sentences what their future lifestyle might be. Have students gather pictures of different personal possessions and place them in columns labelled Lifestyle Dreams and Reality Check, according to whether or not they re realistic for them. Have students research and debate the proposition that lifestyle dreams are necessary to set realistic personal goals

5 HANDOUT 2-1 LIFESTYLE REALITY CHECK Name: Class/Block: Date: STEP 1: Choose where you'll live when you leave high school. Then enter the amount appropriate for your area, using the figures given as a guide. Your Budget Estimated average costs for NS youth after high school Large City/ Urban Centre Costs per month Rest of NS Housing At home with parents One-bedroom apartment Share two-bedroom apartment with roommate Transportation New car Toyota Matrix Used car 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier Public transit monthly pass 65 Food Eat at apartment only Eat at apartment and eat out occasionally Utilities Electricity Heating electric Heating gas / oil Telephone Local (basic service) Long distance (talk a little) 5 5 Long distance (talk a lot) Cellphone (local) Computer Hardware Software Internet connection Clothing Shop a little Shop a lot Health care Medications and dental Glasses/lenses Insurance Medical premiums (if not under parents plan) Apartment contents insurance

6 HANDOUT 2-1 (cont'd) LIFESTYLE REALITY CHECK (cont'd) itish Columbia Securities Commission Br Large City/ Rest Large City/ Rest of Urban Centre of NS Urban Centre Alberta Entertainment Entertainment Cable Cable (basic) (basic) Movies (and (and popcorn, popcorn, etc.) etc.) Rentals: video video / DVD / DVD / games / games Purchases: music music Purchases: video video / DVD / DVD / games / games Concerts and and professional sports sports Night clubs clubs / pubs / pubs Recreation Sports fees fees / equipment / equipment Lessons Lessons Health club membership Health club membership Personal Haircut: man Haircut: man Haircut: woman Haircut: woman Manicures, etc Manicures, etc Makeup Makeup Personal care (shampoo, soap, etc.) Dry Personal cleaners care (shampoo, soap, etc.) Laundry Dry cleaners at laundromat Laundry at laundromat Education (tuition, fees, books, etc./ 12 mos.) University Education (tuition, fees, books, etc./ 12 mos.) College University / University College Technical College / Technical Other Banking fees fees Newspapers Books / / magazines Religious / charity / charity Gifts Gifts Pets Pets Bottled water service Bottled water service New furniture (averaged over year) New furniture (averaged over year) Used furniture (averaged over year) Used furniture (averaged over year) Travel: low-cost vacation by car (save per month) Travel: Travel: vacation low-cost including vacation plane by car fare (save (save per per month) month) Travel: vacation including plane fare (save per month) Enter any missing expenses directly here: Enter any missing expenses directly here: Total Expenses: Enter Enter total total expenses expenses in Box in Box B of B Step of Step

7 HANDOUT 2-1 (cont'd) LIFESTYLE REALITY CHECK (cont'd) STEP 2: Choose an occupation and enter average monthly take-home pay in Box A of Step 3. Average monthly take-home pay* (after payroll deductions) British Columbia Securities Commission Food and beverage servers** 1,296 Bartenders** 1,397 Bakers 1,700 Service station attendants 1,429 Hairstylists and barbers 1,628 Cooks 1,594 Early child educators and assistants 1,594 Retail salespersons and clerks 2,228 Labourers in fish processing 1,943 Tour and travel guides 1,932 Receptionists and switchboard operators 1,937 Secretaries (except legal and medical) 2,336 Customer service representatives financial services 2,266 Bookkeepers 2,348 Paralegal and related occupations 2,483 Motor vehicle body repairers 2,466 Chefs 2,065 Web designers and developers 2,816 Truck drivers 2,890 Dental assistants 2,248 Graphic designers and illustrators 2,525 Insurance agents 3,491 Musicians and singers 2,522 Firefighters 4,277 Welders and related machine operators 2,863 Psychologists 4,404 Computer programmers & interactive media developers 3,586 Plumbers 2,971 Managers in financial and business services 4,397 Industrial electricians 3,750 Correctional service officers 3,552 Journalists 3,748 Dietitians and nutritionists 3,629 Registered nurses 3,705 Sales, marketing and advertising managers 4,864 Veterinarians 4,251 Civil, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineers 4,739 Secondary school teachers 3,628 Lawyers 5,111 Government managers health and social policy 4,839 development and program administration RCMP officers (after 36 months of duty) 5,108 General practitioners and family physicians 6,637 * Source: Statistics Canada Census 2006 (adjusted by FCAC for estimated wage increases and deductions) ** Doesn't include tips Income is reduced by as much as 40% to allow for income tax and related deductions. Assumes full-time employment. Part-time employment would have a lower average monthly salary

8 Handout 2-1 (cont'd) lifestyle reality check (cont'd) step 3: Your chosen career from step 2 Your monthly take-home pay from step 2 _ Box A total monthly expenses from step 1 _ Box B monthly difference _ (A minus B) Note: If the difference is positive, you can add it to your monthly savings. If it s negative, you can t support your lifestyle with this career. Note: You may not get full time work or top salaries right away, especially if you re pursuing your education. If you re paying for a family, your expenses will be much higher

9 Handout 2-2 lifestyle reality check answer sheet Name: Class/Block: Date: 1. Describe the future lifestyle you'd like to have. (E.g., Where would you like to live? What kind of work you would like to do? What recreation and entertainment would you choose?) Continue on the back if you need to. 2. List three things you learned by doing the Lifestyle Reality Check tish Columbia Securities Commission Bri 3. Write a summary of your discussion with your parents or another adult about your Lifestyle Reality Check. How can they help you achieve your goals?

10 Handout 2-3 quick quiz lifestyle reality check Name: Class/Block: Date: 1. Define the words: a. lifestyle _ b. goals _ 2. Name two of the possible career choices that will provide enough income for the lifestyle you want. 3. Describe one way that lifestyle affects career choice. 4. Describe two aspects of a future lifestyle you'd like to have. 5. Why is a lifestyle reality check a useful part of financial life skills?